Demyelinating Diseases: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies 2.0

Dear Colleagues,

This is a continued collection of the hot topic of Demyelinating Diseases. We already have done a successful special issue which received interesting contributions and discussions (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issue/demyelinating_diseases).

Demyelinating diseases are a group of pathologies characterized by alteration of myelin, that is, the coating that wraps most of the nerve fibers of the central and peripheral nervous system, whose goal is the improvement of nerve conduction and the preservation of energy spent during action potential propagation. They are very disabling diseases, affecting million people worldwide. There are different types of demyelinating disorders, each characterized by peculiar characteristics that allow their classification. A broad classification of demyelinating diseases drawn according to their pathogenesis includes the following categories: due to immune-mediated inflammatory processes, infectious diseases, caused by metabolic disorders, and hypoxic-ischaemic forms. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) differs, in chemical and immunological features, from that provided in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) by Schwann cells. Accordingly, some demyelinating diseases mainly affect the peripheral nerves, while others primarily affect the CNS. In most cases, however, there is no effective pharmacological treatment capable of completely restoring the normal functionality of myelin and nerve conduction.

The aim of this issue, entitled "Demyelinating Diseases: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies 2.0", is dual: to offer an overview on the landscape of the research devoted to deepening the knowledge on the pathogenic mechanisms involved in demyelinating diseases. To gather an ensemble of the efforts aimed at the identification and pre-clinical validation of targets for therapeutic approaches to be utilized in preventive or curing strategies to improve the quality of life of patients suffering from these severe pathologies. Experimental papers on in vitro or ex vivo models, up-to-date review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.

Dr. Antonietta Bernardo
Guest Editor

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